The Borneo Post

GST advertisem­ent contravene­s Anti-Fake News Act – Chong

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( DUN) with three assemblyme­n including myself. But that is not enough because most of the funds needed to develop our constituen­cy comes from the federal government.

“Hence, we need a strong voice in parliament for Baram and that is through Anyi,” he said.

Dr Penguang and Anyi also spoke at the event. They both called on the Iban voters to show support to BN and thus contribute to a bigger majority for Anyi in the May 9 polls.

“I am very confident that Anyi will win” Dr Penguang said.

He also announced a total of RM45,000 from his Minor Rural Project ( MRP) grant to the women’s bureau of Rh Lansam Sg Dabai ( RM5,000), Parent-Teacher Associatio­n ( PTA) of SK Sg Brit ( RM5,000), Tadika Kemas Sg Brit ( RM5,000), women’s bureau of Rh Michael Selengkor ( RM5,000), SK Lubong Nibong PTA (RM5,000) and RM 20,000 for the Village Security and Developmen­t Committee (JKKK) of Rh Michael Selengkor.

After meeting the Ibans at Lubok Nibong, Dr Penguang and Anyi rushed to Marudi Civic Centre to meet with the Chinese community and later met with the Malays at Kampung Pemindahan. KUCHING: Democratic Action Party ( DAP) candidate for Stampin Chong Chieng Jen has alleged that the GST advertisem­ent carried by major dailies yesterday contravene­d the Anti-Fake News Act.

The DAP Sarawak chairman, who is a lawyer by profession, claimed that collection from GST ( Goods and Services Tax) did not go to the various developmen­t projects and programmes as shown in the advertisem­ent.

“GST money goes to consolidat­ed fund and the consolidat­ed fund is channelled to the budget as either developmen­t expenditur­e or operating expenditur­e. From there it goes to projects or government spending. It goes direct to the consolidat­ed fund but does not go there (pointing at the advertisin­g piece),” he said at a press conference held at the DAP headquarte­rs here.

The GST advertisem­ent stated ‘20% of the government’s revenue come from GST collection ( 2017: RM225.3 billion. GST collection: RM41.5 billion. GST (6%) replaced SST (10%+ 6%) in Apr 2015’.

Chong pointed out that “it is impossible for GST to do all these”, referring to the various developmen­t projects and programmes in the advertisem­ent, arguing that if the annual GST collection was RM40 billion and the country’s total revenue was RM200 billion, the GST revenue constitute­d only 20 per cent of the total revenue.

He added that others that made up the total revenue were the income tax, corporate tax, tariffs, import duties and royalties.

Given this, he said the advertisem­ent had contravene­d the Anti Fake News law which stipulated that any news report or even advertisem­ent which consisted of partially wrong informatio­n was considered fake news.

As such, he said directors of the newspapers that carried the GST advertisem­ent “are liable to pay RM200,000 in fi ne or five years imprisonme­nt or both”, if convicted.

“That is the law, and that is why we ( Pakatan Harapan - PH) say such Anti Fake News Act is an oppressive law,” he stressed.

He added that the PH coalition, if voted in to rule Putrajaya, will repeal the Act without hesitation.

When prompted for comments on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s statement that Barisan Nasional ( BN) remained confident of winning 28 out of the 31 parliament­ary seats in the state, Chong said: “No need to respond lah. Let the voters respond.”

During my previous visits to the area, I hear many requests for water supply in Lubok Nibong area. I am pleased to announce today that the water supply project has been approved at a cost of RM42 million. Datuk Gerawat Gala, Deputy Speaker and Mulu assemblyma­n

 ??  ?? (From second left) Gerawat, Anyi and Dr Penguang and others attend a ‘miring’ ceremony before entering Rh Michael.
(From second left) Gerawat, Anyi and Dr Penguang and others attend a ‘miring’ ceremony before entering Rh Michael.
 ??  ?? Chong holds up two Chinese newspapers that carry the GST advertisem­ent.
Chong holds up two Chinese newspapers that carry the GST advertisem­ent.

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